Pope advances sainthood cause of Sisters of Charity of Quebec founder

Vatican City — Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of eight candidates, including the founder of the Sisters of Charity of Quebec.

During a meeting Monday with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, the pope signed a decree recognizing that Mother Marie-Anne-Marcelle Mallet lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way and is venerable.

Mallet, who was born in Montreal in 1805 and died in Quebec in 1871, founded the Sisters of Charity with five other sisters in 1849. The institute, dedicated to the care of children, the sick and the elderly, operates today in Canada, the United States, Japan, Paraguay, Argentina and Congo.